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Saturday, May 16, 2015

I am literally so busy I feel like I never have time to blog anymore. I spend the majority of my free time at school trying to get ahead and thinking about what I am going to tweak for next year. Like the current topic I am doing with my 7th graders (La ropa aka clothing). I am using the same vocabulary as the other teachers but not the same packet (we shared the first 12 packets and then I had to make my own which I was fine with). There are things I would like to improve upon, make more hands-on activities and I plan to start early this summer. {Let's see if I actually follow through}

Because right now, this is my current state of mind:

I am pretty sure my 9th period class is over school. I know I am ready for finals. We have 23 days of class left! Our last day of classes is June 18th but the last official day of school is June 25th. My 6th graders don't have a final (yes!) and the 7th graders take their final in class June 15-17. So I really just have to finish their review packet and send it off to the copy center. I am CRAZY and decided to do 3 different packets...one of all the speaking questions, one that is SPECIFICALLY grammar/notes, and one that is vocabulary. One of the HS teachers in our district did this and I think it breaks it up. Otherwise they would have a 100 page review packet.

But I am mentally shot. Really ready not to wake up at 5am every day. Every night this week I came home and laid on the couch because I couldn't keep my eyes open.

Plus working doubles every Saturday and Sunday means I have no life and I never have a day off. Like next weekend when I have to do a kids party. It's not rocket science to do one but knowing me I will get the one with the neurotic parent (because we get those that write in a complaint).

Next Friday I get the results from my French CST and let's just say...I am already setting myself up to know that I did not pass. It was super hard and it took me 3 times to pass the Spanish one. Granted, I went in blind not knowing anything for the Spanish the first time and I got a 216 (you need a 220 to pass). I only had to take it for a 3rd time because I got a 219 the second time (thank god I got a 221 the third time). I have spoken to my chairperson and principal about it because it is possible I can teach the 7th and/or 8th grade French classes next year depending upon our ESL enrollment (they would take 2 of the other language teachers who have their Masters in ESL and have them teach a few classes in it in addition to their language classes).

I actually told my principal "It would suck to have this job taken from me when I finally found my niche" (he's a cool dude so he laughed). I finally feel like I found my place and to have to start over would not be cool. I am lucky because my principal said he would love to have me back there and my chairperson is thrilled. After our department meeting on Tuesday, I showed him the letter I got from NYS about only needing five more credits for French (in addition to the CST) instead of 8. He was super thrilled and when I said that I didn't know how hard it could be to find someone certified in Spanish and French, he chuckled and said "Believe me, it is difficult. You were one of three people who applied for your job, the only one who knew French, and the only normal one. So don't worry!" That made me feel better. Generally speaking the chair and the principal have a say of who they want (especially who the principal wants in his building) so having them in my corner backing me up is icing on the cake. Now its just to pass that CST.

I had to work all day on Mother's Day so I didn't even really get to celebrate with my mom. Boo. I actually bought her a combined birthday/Mother's Day/retirement gift (she is retiring soon) and got her tickets to see Billy Joel at MSG in NYC!!! She has always mentioned that she wanted to see him (my brother was suppose to have gotten her tickets for Christmas but he never bought them) and being a Long Islander like Billy Joel, I wanted to see him too. So I splurged and we have floor seats. Side note - it was more expensive to see Taylor Swift than Billy Joel! I have floor seats at MetLife in July for Taylor Swift and it was like $100-$120 more.

I still need to update about my Stitch Fixes 3, 4 and now 5. I got my 5th fix and I have to say, I was disappointed in this one. The bag they sent me was NOT my taste (plus it smelt like cat pee and I actually wrote that in the review) and one of the tops I wanted to keep was damaged. So I only ended up keeping one dress that was $54 and between the $20 styling credit and a $20 discount they gave me because I couldn't fix the top (nor did they have a replacement in stock) , I only paid $14. It's cute and has pockets! Hopefully i will get my act together and post it soon.

And that's life lately. I can't believe the school year is winding down and once school is done, I need to blog thoughts I have about what I have learned as my first year of being a teacher.